The most important thing that Tony Battie has done in his basketball career (and perhaps his entire life, according to some Celtics fans) did not come on the basketball court. Nor will it ever show up on the stat sheet. It came at a nightclub in Boston on September 25, 2000. After fellow teammate (and one of the greatest Celtics players in franchise history) Paul Pierce was stabbed several times in the back, Battie and his brother rushed Pierce to a nearby hospital in order to save his life.
Now to his basketball career. Battie was selected with the 5th overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. After one season in Denver, Battie joined the C’s for the next six years. Battie’s best season in Boston was in 2002-03, when he averaged 7.3 PPG and 6.5 RPG to go along with 1.2 BPG in just over 25 minutes of action per game.
He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers midway through the next season, where he spent one year. The Cavaliers traded Battie to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Drew Gooden and Anderson Varejao. Battie spent the next six years in Orlando and perhaps had his best year in his career with the team. In 2005-06, Battie averaged just under 8 PPG to go along with 5.6 RPG.
In the last two seasons, Battie has split his time between the New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. In his 14 year career, Battie has averaged totals of 6.2 PPG and 5.2 RPG in 21.4 MPG.
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